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Antiva

Type

Location

Capital

Appearances

Antiva is a plutocratic nation[1] in north eastern Thedas. Although it possesses few resources of its own, Antiva's location makes it a center for trade in the north. Antiva's wine trade, buoyed by its fruitful vineyards and an aggressive approach to trading practices with other nations, is one of the country's main resources, allowing for a relatively prosperous life for its citizens.[2] Its capital is Antiva City, which lies on the middle of its coastline and is one of the wealthiest in Thedas.

Contents

Antiva is bordered by the Rialto Bay and Rivain to the East, the Tevinter Imperium to the West and the Free Marches to the South. The country enjoys a warm north-eastern climate. Much of Antiva is coastline, thus facilitating their seafaring nature. Five of their major cities are port cities, including the Antivan capital, Antiva City.

5:12 Exalted: Awakening of Andoral and the rise of the Fourth Blight. Antiva is overrun. The city of Seleny falls after a four day siege. The entire royal family is slaughtered and Antiva City is all but destroyed.

5:99 Exalted: With the recent assassination of Queen Madrigal of Antiva (deep within the forest during a hunt, she is found with four steel swords plunged into her chest, presumably murdered by the Crows), the Steel Age is named.[7][9]

Officially, the line of kings in Antiva has remained unbroken for two and a half thousand years, but the monarchy is very weak and has virtually no army. In reality, Antiva is a plutocracy: the true power conferred strictly by wealth lies in the hands of a dozen merchant princes. They are not princes in the literal sense, but heads of banks, trading companies, and vineyards, each with a personal army, and each locked in a constant struggle against all the others. They possess sufficient capital to resolve any external diplomatic quandaries with a well-aimed purse or threat of withdrawn trade.

Despite the lack of a strong military tradition, there is another reason why Antiva has rarely feared invasion: the infamous House of Crows, the most efficient, most feared, and most expensive guild of assassins in Thedas. Their fame is such that Antiva has no need of a standing army. No leader is willing to order an attack on her borders or to lead the troops due to fear of assassination. Even the Qunari leave the nation alone.

In addition, the political machinations of Queen Asha, "The Queen Mother of Thedas" involved an extensive array of political marriages between numerous noble houses in the effort of establishing alliances. This has given the kingdom of Antiva significant political protection: to start hostilities with Antiva would mean running the risk of dragging half of Thedas into war.

An association of Antivan pirates called the Felicisima Armada is the leading maritime power in the region. It gained influence when the pirates aided the allied forces in the Exalted Marches against the Qunari, and now poses a serious threat on the Waking Sea. Wealthy merchants often prefer to pay the leaders of the Armada rather than to risk their cargo.

Antiva, as a coastal country with bustling ports, facilitates a great deal of trade, both through piracy and legitimate business. Some of this trade may be under the aegis of the Antivan Crows and their confederates.[12] The exports of Antiva are numerous and varied. Antiva is renowned for its admittedly unparalleled wines, as well as its coffee.[13] It is also known for its rubies[14] and diamonds.[15] Antivan leatherworking is also particularly exquisite, and its crafters are the envy of the known world.[16] In addition to leather Antiva produces fine weaving[17] and silk of great renown.[18] Antivan crafters also excel at the production of porcelain of a quality so fine light shines through,[19] as well as woodwork.[20] The country enjoys healthy trade with many nations, including the empire of Orlais.[15]

The origins of modern Antiva lie in the alliance of pirates and "ne'er-do-wells" who favored a safer and more lucrative life on land as opposed to a dangerous life on the sea. They made a home on Rialto Bay's western coast which was, however, owned by the king of Antiva, the nearby city-state. Eventually the two distinct groups merged into one people, evolving into the nation of Antiva as it's known today.[21]

Women have strictly defined roles in Antiva. They are considered pure and delicate and not allowed to participate in combat, among other things.[22] However it's fairer to say this is an Antivan ideal of femininity which does not always match up well with the reality.[23] Dueling, usually to a non-fatal extent, is a past-time and way to solve disputes among the nobility.[24]

One particularly notable woman in Antivan history - and indeed Thedosian history - is the Rivaini-born Queen Asha Campana, also known as Asha Subira Bahadur Campana, the Gana of Ayesleigh. The daughter of rich merchants, she married the weak King Dario Campana during the Black Age, but was not content with allowing history to pass her by. She desired that Antiva have a larger and more powerful role in Thedosian politics. To this end, she married her children and grandchildren into royal and aristocratic families throughout the continent, leading historians to refer to her as the "Queen Mother of Thedas." She is said to have descendants amongst the royals of Orlais, Nevarra, Starkhaven, the Anderfels and even amongst some Tevinter magisters.[25]

Satinalia is a Theodosian holiday. It is accompanied by wild celebration, the wearing of masks, and naming the town fool as ruler for a day. Particularly in Antiva, Satinalia lasts for a week or more, while a week of fasting follows. This holiday is celebrated at the beginning of Umbralis.

King Fulgeno II - ruled during the Dragon Age and appointed Josephine Montilyet as an ambassador to Celene I

Queen Giuvana[26] - lived during the early Exalted Age. Killed by the ArchdemonAndoral during the evacuation of Antiva City at the beginning of the Fourth Blight.

King Guiomar the Younger - known for claiming a Maker-granted right as judge and executioner, he personally executed those he decreed guilty. Assassinated by the Antivan Crow Callisto di Bastion in 4:22 Black.

King Semion - Cousin to Queen Madrigal and creator of the Velabanchel.[27]

Antiva is a fictionalized version of a medieval Italian city-state like Venice, and it was originally going to be called Calabria.[28] The name was changed because Calabria is a real region in Italy, although the cities of Treviso and Rialto, which appear in the map, are an actual Italian city (in the case of Treviso), and the name of the largest and most famous Venetian bridge (Ponte Rialto). Nevertheless, Antiva is erroneously referred to as Calabria in Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne and in some of the Dragon Age: Origins localized versions.

Antivans, particularly Zevran, speak with a strong Spanish accent. Some Antivans in-game may say words in Spanish. Zevran, when successfully romanced in Dragon Age: Origins, will randomly say "Sí amor?" ("Yes, love?") when switching control to him in the party. A similar case is Vincento in Dragon Age II, who says "Maldición" (a Spanish term for "damn it").

In his dialogue with Morrigan, Zevran mentions the rumors of a Witch of the Wilds settling in the Antivan Tellari swamps. This rumor is confirmed to be true in Dragon Age: The Silent Grove where it is revealed there is a Witch of the Wilds named Yavana living in the Tellari swamps.